“This is the year.” In early April the supporters of all 18 counties can still allow themselves to dream, even though that dream can be punctured as early as the start of May with the current schedule. But on Sunday, armed with anorak, flask and – let’s sustain the optimistic theme – sun cream, the stalwarts will reunite at our county grounds, often relieved to discover that their usual companions have survived another winter.
The county game has to brace itself. Whenever the national team is ailing domestic cricket comes under additional scrutiny because we play too much/too little in games that are too long/too short. So many conflicts of interest remain. No doubt some counties will protest that England are so hopeless in World Cups because they reverted to 50-over cricket last year. And there is disquiet that England’s T20 competition cannot provide the bonanza created by the Big Bash in Australia. But with a benign forecast for much of the country there is today a delicious sense of anticipation.
Yorkshire are the champions and the favourites to retain the trophy. If they manage that it would be a superior achievement to their 2014 triumph. Currently they have six players in the Caribbean with England. Cheteshwar Pujara of India joins them for the start of the season in a squad that includes Jack Leaning, Will Rhodes, Karl Carver, Mathew Fisher and Dan Hodgson, none of whom are household names beyond the broad acres.
Jason Gillespie does not gripe at so many national calls. The Yorkshire coach regards creating Test cricketers as part of his job and he is doing it well. Since Andrew Gale is suspended, the side will be led by Alex Lees two days before his 22nd birthday. They begin their defence of the title at Worcester, where the county side have yo-yoed back into Division One.
The other promoted side are Hampshire, who opted to give James Vince the captaincy shortly before the start of the season. They entertain Sussex, who have made some eye‑catching signings over the winter. Pace bowlers are always exciting and they have acquired Ajmal Shahzad from Nottinghamshire, who once looked destined for a significant England career, and Tymal Mills, who just might be in line for one, even though he struggled to sustain a regular spot at Essex.
Nottinghamshire are at Lord’s, a ground to which Nick Compton has returned after five fruitful years at Somerset. With the selection of Adam Voges, Middlesex’s choice as captain, for Australia’s Ashes squad, Compton may even end up skippering his old side before too long. As usual Steve Finn has a point to prove.
Somerset soldier on without Compton and Craig Kieswetter, who is unlikely to play at all in 2015 after his eye injury. They have acquired Jim Allenby from Glamorgan and Tom Cooper from South Australia. Somerset play Durham at Taunton.
Meanwhile, in Division Two, Leicestershire host Glamorgan while Gloucestershire travel to take on Northamptonshire.
But that’s not all. The press box at the Parks may not be big enough this morning. Oxford University welcome Surrey, a contest that was probably not highlighted by cricket correspondents when the fixture list was first released.
But stuff happens. Kevin Pietersen was not playing in the IPL on Saturday for the Hyderabad Sunrisers in Chennai against MS Dhoni and co. Instead he is preparing to resume his first-class career with Surrey, which is expected to include playing in front of one student and his dog plus a bulging press pack, pursuing one of the more surreal sporting stories of the year.
